Vatnsberi Back Downtown - The Reykjavik Grapevine

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Vatnsberi Back Downtown

One of Iceland’s better-known sculptures has been moved back to its original location on Bankastræti, after spending many lonely years on a plot of grass next to the weather office.
Vatnsberi (The Water-Bearer) was sculpted by Ásmundur Sveinsson in 1937, and became one of his best known pieces. Ásmundur himself was somewhat of a pioneer in Icelandic art, bringing forms and styles he learned abroad back to his home country.
It is said that Vatnsberi was supposed to stand next to Bernhöftsbrunninn, the last fountain in Reykjavík, in memory of water bearers who used to work in the city in the old days. Bernhöftsbrunninn was near Bakarastígur, which is called Bankastræti today.
After sitting next to the weather office for 44 years, the statue has been moved back to where it was intended to be, at Bankastræti and Lækjargata. It will be unveiled at a special ceremony on 18 August, at 20:00. Former Sugarcube vocalist and current chairperson of the cultural committee for the city of Reykjavík Einar Örn Benediktsson will be hosting, and all are welcome to attend.

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